Resources
Check out some of the best resources in our field for working with transgender singers below.
by Liz Jackson Hearns & Brian Kremer
The first comprehensive print source on teaching trans singers. It provides teachers conclusive knowledge on transgender singers. It breaks down many physical, emotional, and psychological experiences of transgender people and challenges the modern teacher to expand their minds and perspectives to invite and welcome transgender singers into the voice studio. We highly recommend this book.
by Liz Jackson Hearns
A follow-up resource to The Singing Teacher's Guide to Transgender Voices filled with vocal exercises, tips, and other information about gender and voice perception.
Chicago, IL
Co-founded by Liz Jackson Hearns (she/her/they/them), MM, and Alexandra Plattos Sulack (she/her), MM, The Voice Lab, Inc. is a voice studio in the Chicago area that specializes in working with trans singers. Their website is filled with fabulous resources for students and teachers alike interested in learning more about trans voice training.
December 2017 NATS Chat: "Transgender Voices: What Voice Teachers Need to Know"
This NATS Chat features three voice teachers, including Liz Jackson Hearns, talking about their work with transgender singers.
Organizations
Explore the leading organizations fighting for trans and LGBT+ rights across the world below.
Facebook Groups
Connect with other professional on social media.
Page associated with Jackson Hearns and Kremer's book
"Singing teachers! Looking to become more trans-competent instructing transgender singers? Look no further."
A private group of teachers who work with trans singers.
Request to join this experienced group of voice professionals who work with transgender singers. They have a shared spreadsheet of teachers and locations to help pair teachers with students and vice versa.
Chicago, IL based choir for trans singers
Founded in 2015 by Liz Jackson Hearns. Read more about them here.
A group of SLPs and other professionals
"A closed group for Speech-Language Pathologists and other professionals who work with transgender people seeking vocal transition-related services and/or training."
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A private group of AFAB trans people.
This group is meant as a safe and open support space for any and all people whose assigned gender at birth was Female, or who is Intersex and was raised as Female, but whose gender is incongruent with that assignment.
Terminology and vocabulary can be overwhelming in this field, but as an educator, it is vital that you understand and employ appropriate language in your own teaching practice to ensure a safe, trans-affirming environment for transgender singers.
Explore terminology using the resources above, and check out this page by The Voice Lab for a basic list of terminology to use and words you should avoid. Jackson Hearns and Kremer's book, The Singing Teacher's Guide to Transgender Voices, has many pages of definitions to explore and familiarize yourself with.
Click here for a bibliography of suggested readings on transgender voices. Please reach out using the form below if you have suggestions or additions to this list. This is a recent field of research, and we will do our best to keep this list as up to date as possible.
What are we missing?
Contact us below with suggestions.